Category Archives: Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Chicago Blackhawks took a 2-0 series lead Sunday at the United Center, getting three-point performances from Bryan Bickell and Marian Hossa to down the Minnesota Wild 4-1. The Blackhawks never trailed in Game 2, getting goals from Bickell and Jonathan Toews along with a pair of goals from Brandon Saad.

First Period-After winning the faceoff, the Hawks got an early shot on goal when Niklas Hjalmarsson fired a slap shot that was caught be Ilya Bryzgalov. Corey Crawford gloved a puck that came up high off of Zach Parise’s skate early in the second minute.

Clayton Stoner was goaded into a cross-checking penalty by Saad at 3:29 of the period to set up a Chicago power play. Brent Seabrook sent an attempt toward net that Bickell got a stick on However, the puck rang off the crossbar and the Wild killed the penalty without surrendering a shot. Read more »

Just as the bikini girl puts down the “round 2” sign, you can’t help but ponder, is this the same Minnesota Wild team the Hawks faced last year in the first round? The answer is simple. No. This Wild team comes slightly different with some glaring similarities.

Remember during the warm ups in game one last season when Niklas Backstrom took a puck off the knee and was helped off the ice deeming him finished for the series? In came Josh Harding, who played real well before hurting himself as well, and then came in Darcy Kemper to finish the series off in a losing cause as Minnesota were eliminated 4-1. Well not a lot has changed with the Wild’s goaltending carousel.

Minnesota’s hope this series seems to rest on Ilya Bryzgalov’s universe. Read more »

The Chicago Blackhawks put on a clinic in the third period of Game 6, much to the dismay of the St. Louis Blues. The Hawks ripped the hearts out of the Blues with a furious final 20 minutes, sending the Blues home to clean out their lockers with a 5-1 victory.

Chicago wins this Western Conference first-round series 4-2 and completed a sweep of St. Louis after falling two games behind the Blues. Duncan Keith helped pace the Hawks with a four-point afternoon as five different Blackhawks posted goals in the deciding game. Read more »

Just like its predecessors, game 5 was a tightly played, very close game. And like three of the previous games, Friday night’s contest also took extra time to decide.

The Blackhawks Put Saad up on the line with Kane and Toews and in place of Brent Seabrook on his 2nd game of suspension was Sheldon Brookbank, who again was good enough.

Deja vu for the Blues who lost last year’s first round series to the Kings after taking a 2-0 lead in the series following eerie similarities with this series. The Kings beat the Kings 4-3 in game four and 3-2 in ot in game 5, going on to win the series in LA in game 6. It’s starting to feel that way again, only in Chicago. Read more »

After an absolute stellar performance from Corey Crawford on Monday night at the UC, it was time to bottle up that momentum and save it for a pivotal Game 4 also hosted by the Blackhawks. Crow made 34 saves to record his 2nd career playoff shutout in front of 22,000 strong. The absence of suspended defensemen Brent Seabrook was barely even noticeable.

The Hawks found a way to win on the backs of their strong defense, fearless power play and tremendous net minding. Now breathe with me. There is still a lot of hill left to climb in this series and most of it to be done without #7. Read more »

The Chicago Blackhawks rode the back of goalie Corey Crawford Monday night in Game 3 of their Western Conference first-round series with St. Louis. Needing a big performance in net, Crawford shut out the Blues as the Hawks won 2-0 to pull to with a game of tying the best-of-seven series.

First Period-The Hawks began the game with an extended stay in the Blues zone by a top line of Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Bryan Bickell. Chicago controlled possession for much of the first four minutes. That dominance would soon pay off on the scoreboard. Read more »

After a second heart-wrenching overtime loss in St. Louis, the Blackhawks find themselves down two games to none in a series that could easily be 1-1 or two games to none in the ‘Hawks advantage.

There were times in Saturday’s Game 2, much like the first game, where the Hawks looked listless and others where they looked dominant. I suppose this could have been prophesied as they looked rather lethargic to end the season.

1st period: On the scoreboard the 1st period went to the Blues easily. The Hawks actually out-shot St Louis 11-9 but ended the first period down 2-0. Read more »

The Chicago Blackhawks strolled into Boston on Monday night with Lord Stanley on standby. Those players who were members of the 2010 Hawks Stanley Cup championship team rallied the troops who have previously never been on the cusp of grasping the Cup.

Although Jonathan Toews was sat for all of the third period in game 5, he was declared 100% and ready to go on the morning of game 6. In the other dressing room, Patrice Bergeron also left game 5 with an unknown injury. He was dressed and ready to play in Monday’s match. All of those Corey Crawford critics seemed to disappear after game 5, where he nearly posted a shutout. It was time for the Hawks to end the series and the season and raise the Stanley Cup. Read more »

The Chicago Blackhawks got a pair of goals from Patrick Kane and held on in a tight Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against Boston Saturday night. Chicago prevailed 3-1 with captain Jonathan Toews observing from the bench for the entire third period.

The Blackhawks take a 3-2 series lead, building a two-goal advantage and getting a big bounce back effort from Corey Crawford. The Chicago goalie made 24 saves to help nail down the win.

The action was back and forth in the first 20 minutes. Boston outshot the ‘Hawks 11-8 but Chicago was solid defensively and created a lot of turnovers despite taking some big hits. Read more »